Yogurt for sick chicks

[Pipers chicks]

Sooo, I asked about feeding yogurt to sick chicks before and now decided to post another thread so I would get more ideas on it. Yogurt is really easy to feed to chicks and I wondered if it helps them get well, or is bad for them. I'm not sure how to feed chicks that will not eat themselves, besides putting it own their throats. And that is hard on them. Yogurt I can just drip on their beaks. So is it good for them?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Sooo, I asked about feeding yogurt to sick chicks before and now decided to post another thread so I would get more ideas on it. Yogurt is really easy to feed to chicks and I wondered if it helps them get well, or is bad for them. I'm not sure how to feed chicks that will not eat themselves, besides putting it own their throats. And that is hard on them. Yogurt I can just drip on their beaks. So is it good for them?

Can you give please give us more information and photos (chicks, brooder set-up and poop):
How old are the chicks?
They are sick - what are the symptoms?
What do you normally feed your chicks?
What type of treatments, medications and care have you been giving?

Give your chicks Chick Starter. If they are having a hard time eating it, then you can grind it up finer or you can offer it wet. (Mix starter with a little water). Depending on what is wrong with your chicks, they may need some type of medication or extra vitamins.

With more information, we may be able to give you better answers.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Some swear by it. To me it's not necessarily a natural diet for them. Why are your chicks not eating?

 

[Pipers chicks]

I don't have a particular chick that's sick now. Just asking for in general since I sometimes get a chick that is either sick or weak. I order from hatchery's and sometimes one comes just laying with it's eyes closed and not responsive to anything. Probably jut shipping stress. I think they may be weak, not sick. I give them sugar-water, get food down them and make sure they are warm. If the others are walking on them I separate it. In some batches I don't get any like that. Sometimes I get one that becomes weak after a day or two. Could that still be shipping stress? Since I don't have any now I can't post pic's.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I don't have a particular chick that's sick now. Just asking for in general since I sometimes get a chick that is either sick or weak. I order from hatchery's and sometimes one comes just laying with it's eyes closed and not responsive to anything. Probably jut shipping stress. I think they may be weak, not sick. I give them sugar-water, get food down them and make sure they are warm. If the others are walking on them I separate it. In some batches I don't get any like that. Sometimes I get one that becomes weak after a day or two. Could that still be shipping stress? Since I don't have any now I can't post pic's.

I'm glad that all is well and you are just asking for information
The symptoms you describe can be due to shipping stress. Sugar water is good. Something else to consider having on hand is Poultry Nutri-Drench, it's very good for shipping stress, sick/injured birds, etc. For chicks you can add it to the water or direct dose them with 1-2drops per day for a week.

We all have different opinions and ways of doing things. I don't see any harm in giving chicks a little bit of yogurt. They would only need about 1/4-1/2teaspoon daily. This is why making a slurry of chick starter would be better. I do understand that sometimes you may need to syringe feed into a sick bird, but yogurt does not have the protein, vitamins and minerals that feed has. You can also try raw egg if need be.

Hopefully others will chime in with their thoughts.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'm old school and I use brown sugar in my water for a few days for a boost, otherwise I don't do much else anymore. Those that are too far gone I've not had any luck reviving.

I've only given adult birds expired yogurt but never chicks. I offer dry chick starter, and after a few days I start giving them scrambled eggs daily which really boosts their growth rate, though it makes them a bit stinky, and their poops looser, so I don't use much.

 

[Pipers chicks]

Thanks for the ideas! I will probably try the Nutri-Drench. Also, how do you make a slurry? Chick starter and water?

 

[gtcakes]

My chicks love yogurt, so I give it as a small treat. It’s really probiotics they would need, which you can get other ways.

I found it did help with one of my chicks and his pasty but.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for the ideas! I will probably try the Nutri-Drench. Also, how do you make a slurry? Chick starter and water?

Yes, to make a slurry, it's soupy chick starter
Some people do grind the chick feed up very fine before they mix it with water-this can make it easier to syringe/tube feed (not as chunky) or you can soak a little feed overnight, it breaks down fairly well.

 

[Little Jerry Seinfeld]

I make a concoction of stuff when this happens
I scramble an egg or 2, with a half teaspoon of molasses a half teaspoon of raw honey, a quarter tsp of apple cider vinegar, then I mix in a teaspoon of plain yogurt and a teaspoon or two of chick starter, sometimes a drop or two of gaterade or water if it comes out too dry.
the chicks will usually go crazy for this and eat it up, if the chick is very weak I pry open his little beak and put a piece on the end of a toothpick or whatever I have at hand, and put it in his mouth, they swallow it down no problem. I give each weak chick just a few bites each, depending on size of course. and the ones that eat, I take the mix out when their little crop gets full because I've had some over eat it to the point of making their crop so stuffed they gasp for breath! Hogs
This usually helps the ones that have a chance. Oh sometimes I grate in a little bit of garlic or pulverized oatmeal too.